These Top-Rated RVs Are Worth Their Price Tag
Buying a travel trailer can be hard because there are so many options. Travel trailers are one of the most popular RV designs on the market, and they come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and designs. If you’re looking for value above all else, you may be wondering, “What is the best travel trailer for the money?”
There are tons of great options, and everybody needs something different from their RV. However, there are a few stand-out models that provide a great blend of comfort and convenience.
Below we have our picks for the best travel trailer for the money, the best luxury trailer, and the best teardrop trailer. Each of these suit different needs, but they all provide great value for the money.
Best travel trailer for the money: Forest River Cherokee Alpha Wolf 26DBH-L
- Total Vehicle Length: 31 feet, 8 inches
- Fresh Water Capacity: 49 gallons
- Estimated MSRP: $53,000
Forest River is a massive company that has a huge selection of RVs. They have lots of different brands under their title, including several collections of travel trailers. Of all of their models, the Cherokee Alpha Wolf 26DBH-L is one of their most popular trailers. It’s not the cheapest model on the market, but you’ll get a fantastic value for your money.
This model is a bunkhouse unit that’s perfect for traveling families. There’s enough space for everyone to have their own area, but the trailer is small enough to be manageable on the roads. The rear portion is split with a pair of bunk beds on one side and a full bathroom on the other. The bathroom also has its own exterior entrance so you can easily access it during driving breaks.
The front section of this travel trailer has the main bedroom. This contains a queen-size bed, nightstands, a pair of closets, and a spacious overhead storage compartment. This room can also be outfitted with its own wall-mounted TV.
The center section has the combined living room and kitchen. There’s a single carpeted slideout that contains a U-shaped dinette and a jack knife sofa. The kitchen has all the essential appliances as well as a walk-in pantry and residential refrigerator. A fireplace/entertainment center completes this space and adds a touch of coziness.
The exterior of this travel trailer is also noteworthy! Each one comes with a 20-foot awning, a pass-thru storage compartment, and a deluxe outdoor kitchen. This includes a mini refrigerator and freezer as well as a sink and a pair of burners.
Overall, this Cherokee Alpha Wolf might be the best travel trailer for your money. It’s a bit more expensive than the average trailer, but you get to enjoy a great floor plan, upgraded amenities, and plenty of sleeping room. There’s plenty of bang for your buck! If you want to learn more about it, check out the product page on Forest River’s website.
Best luxury option: Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS
Total Vehicle Length: 37 feet, 4 inches
Fresh Water Capacity: 54 gallons
Estimated MSRP: $80,000
Luxury travel trailers tend to be more expensive than standard models, but they really earn that higher price point. Although it’s pricier, you get a lot of great amenities for your money. The Grand Design Reflection lineup has a lot of wonderful layouts, but the 312BHTS is one of the best.
This travel trailer has a grand total of 3 slideouts to expand the space. There is a good amount of elbow room in this design, and the space doesn’t feel cramped once everything has been extended. The 312BTHS is also a bunkhouse model, but it can serve many other functions as well.
The back of this trailer has a separate bunkhouse room. A pair of 44″ bunks sit against one wall, while the other has a trifold sofa on the bottom and a 36″ flip bunk on top. If needed, this space can also be used for extra storage space or even as an office.
The center module of this trailer features a pair of opposing slideouts to expand the space. One slideout contains a set of theater seats and a booth-style dinette. The other holds the kitchen appliances such as the refrigerator, microwave, 3-burner stove, and lots of counter space. A fireplace and entertainment section are also built into this portion of the slideout.
A center island provides additional workspace, and it also has the kitchen sink. There is a ton of cabinet space in here, and a hutch along one wide wall provides extra counter space for appliances, decorations, or ingredients.
The front of this travel trailer contains the bathroom and main bedroom. The bedroom features a queen-size bed with closets on either side of it. There also also overhead cabinets and a set of drawers along one wall. An additional closet with a washer/dryer prep station is also included.
The Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS has an outdoor kitchen setup as well, so you can enjoy cooking wherever you go. It’s a fantastic luxury vehicle that can accommodate all your needs. If you’re interested in learning more about this design (or similar ones), visit the Grand Design website.
Best teardrop trailer: nuCamp TAB 400
Total Vehicle Length: 18 feet, 3 inches
Fresh Water Capacity: 22 gallons
Estimated MSRP: $40,000
Finally, we have a teardrop trailer to discuss. These are small travel trailers that are usually only big enough for a single bed and maybe an outdoor galley. The nuCamp TAB 400 is an exception to this rule! It’s big enough to host a sleeping space, indoor kitchen, and even a wet bath.
If you’re interested in a teardrop camper but need to get a lot of bang for your buck, this is a good choice. It’s just over 18 feet long, so you can tow it with a range of vehicles. It’s also small and maneuverable enough for off-roading trips and rural driving.
The rear of this unit contains the convertible sleeping space. It can be used as a dinette during the day, then turns into a sleeping space at night. You just need to add an extra cushion over the table and you’re good to go!
The kitchen contains a sink and cooktop as well as storage cabinets. Both of these appliances have flat covers that can be installed during travel. The whole area easily converts between a work surface and a functional kitchen. A refrigerator sits just across from them.
The wet bath is located just across from the kitchen. This includes a sink, shower, and toilet so you won’t have to rely on campsites or gas station stops to get ready for the day! Each unit is also equipped with solar panels so you can recharge at any time.
There are cheaper teardrop models on the market, but the nuCamp TAB 400 is the best travel trailer for the money. It has amenities that the others do not, but it’s still small enough to be easy to travel with. It definitely stands out from the competition! For more details, visit the nuCamp website here.
RVers looking for valuable how-to information have learned to go to the experts. Forums such as iRV2.com and blog sites like RV LIFE, Do It Yourself RV, and Camper Report provide all the information you need to enjoy your RV. You’ll also find brand-specific information on additional forums like Air Forums, Forest River Forums, and Jayco Owners Forum.
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Sorry, but “best” RV is too subjective to be chosen by one person. I’ve had a Class C, 3 travel trailers, and two 5th wheels. To me “best” is build quality and durability. To that, my Airstream wins hands down. The quality of most of today’s RV’s is dismal. Junk. I also believe that an Airstream has the best resale value over time as compared to other trailers. To each their own, but for me, my Airstream is the “best”.
Totally agree, but most people looking to purchase a travel trailer are not even remotely considering a $100k+ purchase. Given the cost of ownership, amount of use and bang for your buck, Airstreams are not even remotely considered for most frequent and long time trailer owners. That said, there is really no comparison in quality between Airstream and “normal” trailer brands even “luxury” model lines.